Counselling
Layers and Change offer counselling for adults, couples, adolescents and individuals in a safe non-judgemental environment. My intention is to create a relaxed space and counselling style where individuals can explore life experience with less anxiety.
When I think about the last 11 years of my counselling practice, I have noticed that circumstances can cloud people from living their authentic self. Often people become their circumstances and forget who they really are. Unraveling those layers and promoting change is my passion. To enable people to realise that they are more than their circumstance and discover their authentic self is the beginning of change.
Supervision
Layers and Change also offer supervision to practitioners and students. Supporting counsellors and those in training is embedded in the work I do. Working in a collaborative relationship environment where confidence can grow and best practice can be achieved.
Panel 1
My experience as a counsellor speaks to the belief I hold in supporting an individual’s right to be who they are and to live in a way that supports their worldview. It is only through relationships created within a confidential and safe environment, that honest conversation begins to unravel layers of a life lived from both a positive and/or negative perspective. My strengths in counselling include creating a safe relaxed environment and building effective relationships.
Adults
In my practice working with trauma and abuse at Family Action in Auckland I worked in the Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence teams. This work taught me that for many, life was not fair. I met people who grew to understand they were more than their circumstances as they unravel layers of hurt to discover change and freedom.
Youth
My early practice as a guidance counsellor in a large well known secondary school in Auckland allowed me to understand the pressures surrounding our young people. I believe that it is at this point, identities are under construction and as such, investment in and discovery of self-support youth as they journey toward their future.
Grief and Loss
My journey continued towards working with people and families experiencing grief and loss, nearing the end of life. This is where life teaches us how to swim in the deep end of the pool. I have learned that life is sacred and grief is hard. For those who have experienced loss, to learn how to live again and discover a new identity is a forced position that is gently unraveled.
Couples
Here I learned that when “the experts talk about communication being the key to a great relationship” they are right. It takes the assumption out of the equation, therefore, lessens the risk of miscommunication. I have also learned that the way we are in the world is influenced by our role models. This modeling has a direct effect on our relationships and can be troubling. There is hope. It is through the exploration of past experiences, couples can gain insight into why they do what they do. they can then work through the layers for change.
Fees
Counselling sessions are 60 minutes in duration. Fees are charged on a per session basis and are payable at the consultation or by prior arrangement.
| Students |
$80 |
| Adults and couples |
$100 |
Panel 2
The opportunity supervision provides to practitioners and students the space to reflect, grow and learn. Supervision is a collaborative relationship allowing insightful conversations where both supervisee and supervisor gain insight through shared knowledge. The freedom that evolves through honest discussion brings a rich contrast of different perspectives, it embraces diversity and difference. The process of safe and ethical supervision practice supports growth for both supervisee and supervisor. It places value on the work we provide as counsellors and the clients we represent.
Experience
- multi-discipline team dynamics
- the health sector
- working alongside students
- working with/supporting grief and loss
Fees
Supervision sessions are 60 minutes in duration. Fees are charged on a per session basis and are payable at the consultation or by prior arrangement.
| Students |
$80 |
| Practitioners |
$100 |
Panel 3
Penny is the heart of Layers and Change:
- Over 11 years of diverse counselling experience
- Person-centred counselling
- Strengths based practice
- Established client centered therapy expertise
- Narrative therapy, CBT, and family therapy experience
- Transferable competencies – team player, supervisory skills, conflict management and resolution
- Crisis intervention
- Significant people management and relationship building capability
- Sexual, Physical and Emotional, abuse counselling training
- Experience in Pastoral care and senior management teams
- Experience in group facilitation
- Family therapy training
- Supervision qualification
Qualifications
2015–2016
Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (Auckland)
- Supervision qualification
- Grief and loss
2008
Diploma in Counseling
Laidlaw College, Tauranga
Membership
Penny is a full member of NZCCA and thus abides by their code of ethics.
